France Pmi Composite

The HCOB France Composite PMI fell to 48.1 in October 2024, revising higher from initial estimates of 47.3, but down from 48.6 in September, signaling the fastest drop in private sector activity since February. Both manufacturing (44.5 vs 44.6 in September) and services (49.2 vs 49.6) sectors recorded quicker declines, contributing to the overall contraction. New orders fell sharply, with exports taking a significant hit, experiencing their worst drop since May 2020. This led to the steepest decline in new business receipts in nine months. Employment also declined slightly, reversing September's modest gains, amid the lowest business confidence and the quickest fall in backlogs in ten months. On the price front, input costs rose at their weakest pace in nearly four years, while output prices saw only a marginal increase.